Resorts

Amazon Cruises

Other destinations in Brazil

The Amazon

The Amazon is the largest tropical rain forest and river basin. It spans the borders of eight countries and one overseas territory, is the world’s largest river basin and the source of one-fifth of all free-flowing fresh water on Earth. Its rain forests are the planet’s largest and most luxuriant, and home to – amazingly – one in ten known species on Earth.

The Green: The region’s high levels of rainfall, diverse topography and meandering rivers sustain its amazing variety and abundance of life. The Amazon contains vast stores of carbon—its rain forests are key to stabilizing local and global climate.

The species: Containing nearly 40,000 plant species, the Amazon sustains the world’s richest diversity of birds, freshwater fish and butterflies. One of the world’s last refuges for jaguars, harpy eagles and pink dolphins, its thousands of tree species are home to southern two-toed sloths, pygmy marmosets, saddleback and emperor tamarins and Goeldi’s monkeys.

The people: More than 350 indigenous and ethnic groups have lived in the Amazon for thousands of years, tapping nature for agriculture, clothing and traditional medicines. Today, more than 30 million people live in the region. Although most live in large urban centers, all residents remain dependent on the Amazon’s ecosystem services for food, shelter and livelihoods.

The communities: Apart from the major know cities in Peru (Iquitos), Colombia (Leticia) and Brazil (Manaus, Santarem, Belem) there are many indiginous communities worth to visit, still maintaining their ancient tradition and far away from pollution of civilization. Amazing Tours brings you there, for example toMaues, the land of the Guarana and Satere-Mawe Indians, toPresidente Figueiredo, famous for its jungle-waterfalls and caves or to Novo Airao with its pink dolphins.